d herself leaning against his damp body.
As they listened to the approaching sound of hooves and the voices of pursuers, Raphael''s expression turned grave. Yet, he tried to remain calm as he whispered to her, "Let''s see if there''s anywhere to hide around here, at least for now."
Placing one hand beneath her knee and the other lifting her neck, he scooped her up, carrying her forward.
They soon discovered a nearby cave, its edges covered in overgrown weeds. Without hesitation, Raphael supported Edith and bent down, entering the cave, then used some weeds to conceal the hidden entrance.
The space within the cave was cramped, and the two held each other tightly, able to hear the pounding of their hearts in their chests. It didn''t take long before the search party arrived in the vicinity, poking around, scanning their surroundings.
The faint glow of torches seeped into the cave, causing sweat to form in Edith''s palms. Raphael squeezed her hand and spoke with the utmost composure, "Edith, we need to venture further into the depths."
She cautiously followed the young man as they ventured deeper into the cave, relieved that the clamour from the outside gradually faded away. He settled her in a corner, urging her to continue resting.
Edith had no intention of falling asleep in such a tense situation, but the fatigue accumulated from days of travel and the passion of the previous night overcame her, and she soon drifted into slumber.
When she awoke, she found herself lying in Raphael''s arms, her head resting on his knee.
"You''re awake? We must continue our journey. Caen can no longer provide refuge; we need to traverse the forest and continue westward," he swiftly explained, signaling her to remain quietly in place while he went to assess the situation at the cave entrance.
Upon his return, his face was anxious and sombre. "The Committee of General Security has stationed guards at the cave entrance again, led by Quenet himself! It seems that my taking you away has truly dealt him a significant blow!"
"What should we do, Raphael?" she asked, her voice filled with worry.
"We have no choice but to venture deeper," he shook his head. "If fate shows me a glimmer of mercy,